Published: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 5:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 5:13 p.m.

Eric Grabe has seven hits and five RBIs over his last five games, boosting his season batting average by more than 50 points for the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators. The Vanguard High product is now hitting .243 with nine RBIs and 10 runs scored over 23 games in the South Atlantic League.

The third baseman has two doubles, a pair of triples, and two stolen bases for the 27-41 Intimidators, who trail Hagerstown 11.5 games in the South Atlantic League North Division. Grabe, who finished out his college playing days at the University of Tampa, was a 24th round pick by the Chicago White Sox in last year's MLB draft.

MARQUEZ SMITH: Former Forest High standout was promoted from the Class A Advanced Bakersfield Blaze to the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos over the weekend. The infielder has played just two games in the Panhandle, recording a hit and a run in seven at-bats for the Cincinnati Reds' Double-A affiliate.

Smith led the Blaze with a .301 batting average before getting promoted. The seven-year pro also had eight homers, 11 doubles, 26 RBIs and 33 runs scored over 49 games in Bakersfield. He joins a 25-44 Blue Wahoos squad that currently trails Mobile by 14 games in the Southern League South Division.

KEYVIUS SAMPSON: Forest High graduate threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings for the Double-A San Antonio Missions on Friday, beating rival Midland, 3-0. It was the fourth win of the season for the right-hander, who moved his record to a level 4-4.

Sampson, a fourth-round pick by the San Diego Padres in 2009, has 41 strikeouts and a 3.57 ERA over nine starts for the Missions. San Antonio (38-31) currently trails Corpus Christi by 3 1/2 games in the Texas League South Division.

ANTONIO ALLEN: Trinity Catholic product is battling for a starting safety position with the New York Jets. Allen, a seventh-round pick out of South Carolina in 2012, played in just seven games for the Jets last season. But with the departure of veterans LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell he finds himself in a battle with fellow 2012 late-round pick Josh Bush and Eagles transplant Jaiquawn Jarrett for one of the two vacant safety spots. The other spot appears to belong to Dawan Landry, who the Jets acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Allen, who recorded six tackles as a rookie, worked with the first team during most of the Jets' organized team activities (OTAs), but found himself running with the second team during last week's minicamp.

“It's no surprise. I've been going with the first team all OTAs and I guess minicamp, they put me with the second team,” Allen told ESPN last week. “It's a learning experience. I'm not frowning upon it. I just got to work hard.

“Whatever is going to help the team win, I guess. It might not be permanent, but it is for right now.”

<p>Eric Grabe has seven hits and five RBIs over his last five games, boosting his season batting average by more than 50 points for the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators. The Vanguard High product is now hitting .243 with nine RBIs and 10 runs scored over 23 games in the South Atlantic League.</p><p>The third baseman has two doubles, a pair of triples, and two stolen bases for the 27-41 Intimidators, who trail Hagerstown 11.5 games in the South Atlantic League North Division. Grabe, who finished out his college playing days at the University of Tampa, was a 24th round pick by the Chicago White Sox in last year's MLB draft.</p><p><b>MARQUEZ SMITH:</b> Former Forest High standout was promoted from the Class A Advanced Bakersfield Blaze to the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos over the weekend. The infielder has played just two games in the Panhandle, recording a hit and a run in seven at-bats for the Cincinnati Reds' Double-A affiliate.</p><p>Smith led the Blaze with a .301 batting average before getting promoted. The seven-year pro also had eight homers, 11 doubles, 26 RBIs and 33 runs scored over 49 games in Bakersfield. He joins a 25-44 Blue Wahoos squad that currently trails Mobile by 14 games in the Southern League South Division.</p><p><b>KEYVIUS SAMPSON:</b> Forest High graduate threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings for the Double-A San Antonio Missions on Friday, beating rival Midland, 3-0. It was the fourth win of the season for the right-hander, who moved his record to a level 4-4.</p><p>Sampson, a fourth-round pick by the San Diego Padres in 2009, has 41 strikeouts and a 3.57 ERA over nine starts for the Missions. San Antonio (38-31) currently trails Corpus Christi by 3 1/2 games in the Texas League South Division.</p><p><b>ANTONIO ALLEN:</b> Trinity Catholic product is battling for a starting safety position with the New York Jets. Allen, a seventh-round pick out of South Carolina in 2012, played in just seven games for the Jets last season. But with the departure of veterans LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell he finds himself in a battle with fellow 2012 late-round pick Josh Bush and Eagles transplant Jaiquawn Jarrett for one of the two vacant safety spots. The other spot appears to belong to Dawan Landry, who the Jets acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars.</p><p>Allen, who recorded six tackles as a rookie, worked with the first team during most of the Jets' organized team activities (OTAs), but found himself running with the second team during last week's minicamp.</p><p>“It's no surprise. I've been going with the first team all OTAs and I guess minicamp, they put me with the second team,” Allen told ESPN last week. “It's a learning experience. I'm not frowning upon it. I just got to work hard.</p><p>“Whatever is going to help the team win, I guess. It might not be permanent, but it is for right now.” </p><p>-------</p><p><i>Submit Hometown Heroes information to Byron Saucer at byron.saucer@starbanner.com.</i></p>